A Vibrating Fork Might Help You Lose Weight

The HAPIfork claims that it will help you lose weight by
vibrating if you're eating too fast.

Using an electronic sensor, the HAPIfork monitors how fast a user
is eating and then alerts them if it is greater than a
pre-determined rate.

Over time, the device extends the length of time between
mouthfuls so that the user eats less.

The HAPIfork's makers claim that people only naturally feel full
after about 20 minutes of eating, and so by diminishing the
amount eaten in that period users will eat less and consequently
lose weight.

The project, which will be on Kickstarter and aims to retail for $99, also
claims to reduce digestive problems and acid reflux.

The HAPIfork is just one of a large number of new healthcare
gadgets that are being launched at CES in Las Vegas, including
Fitbug's new blood pressure monitor and new internet connected
scales from Withings and Fitbit.

The HAPIfork will initially connect via USB, but manufacturers
HAPIlabs aim to introduce a bluetooth version shortly. Both will
use a removable module so that the fork can be put in a
dishwasher.

It will track the duration of a meal, the number of fork servings
and the duration of each interval between servings. If a user
eats too frequently, it will vibrate while inside their mouth and
show a warning light.

“Most people eat faster than they should and do not realise that
eating too fast isn’t a healthy behaviour, negatively affecting
things like digestion and weight control,” said HAPIlabs’ US
President Andrew Carton.

HAPIlabs also make an activity tracker, similar to Fitbit and
Fitbug, called the HAPItrack. Both products feature web
dashboards that aim to motivate users and introduce games to
encourage improved behaviour.